eOCULUS 10.15.04

Table of Contents
(For those reading eOculus via email, please note that clicking on a link in the Table of Contents will open this issue in your Web browser).

Hot off the Press: Gehry and Snøhetta Picked for WTC Cultural Complex; RFP's Sought for Institutional Planning Services (deadline 11/1!)

On Tuesday, the LMDC announced that Santa Monica-based Gehry Partners (formerly Frank O. Gehry & Associates) has been selected to create the schematic design of a performing arts complex at Ground Zero to include the Joyce Theater, the International Dance Center, and the Signature Theatre Center. Snøhetta of Oslo, Norway, was chosen to create the schematic design, in association with Adamson Associates, for the site's museum complex for the Drawing Center and the International Freedom Center. (Expect to see the schematics sometime in February '05.)

On Monday, the LMDC posted a Request for Proposals (PDF) to "provide institutional planning services relating to the development of the Memorial Center and related or shared aspects of the World Trade Center Memorial and Cultural Program." But you better hurry if you're interested: the deadline for questions (submitted in writing) is Monday, October 18, and proposals are due Monday, November 1. Click on link above for details.

The City of Trenton, NJ, the Trenton Board of Education, and the National Endowment for the Arts, in conjunction with the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation and New Jersey Department of Education, have announced a national design competition for the Carroll Robbins Elementary School's renovation and expansion. The school will be constructed with state funds as part of the state's $8.5 billion Abbott school construction program. The registration deadline is October 29; submissions are due December 10. For more information go to: Click on link above for details and registration form.

October 18 & 29: Sustainable Cities and Baroque Sacred Architecture Explored at The Graduate Center

10/18, 6:30-8:30pm: Open Fire: Can Cities Be Sustainable? Join architects, urban activists, and scientists such Jean Gardner, Brian McGrath, Steward Pickett, Michael Sorkin, and Joel Towers and Brian McGrath for important discussion on the possibility of sustainable cities. The event is sponsored by the AIA NY Chapter; Michael Kalil Endowment for Smart Design, Parsons School of Design; and Graduate Center, CUNY. Admission: $15; students free. Click on link or call 212-817-8215 for details and registration. CES HSW: 2

10/29, 2:00-6:00pm: Putting Two Truths Together: Exploring the Creative Genesis of Baroque Religious Buildings The program will include presentations by an internationally and intellectually diverse group of historians of Baroque sacred architecture, followed by a panel discussion and a question-and-answer period. The program is sponsored by the AIA NY Chapter; Center for Ecumenical Research in the Arts & Sciences; The Samuel H. Kress Foundation; and Graduate Center, CUNY. Admission: Free. Click on link or call 212-817-8215 for details and registration. CES Lus: 2
Both programs are at The Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue @ 34th Street.

Häfele America will sponsor an evening presentation on HEWI Barrier Free and Human Support Systems, the development of Universal Design, and implementation of ADA regulations. The event will take place at the Häfele Showroom, 25 E. 26 St; refreshments at 6:00pm; presentation at 6:30pm. RSVP: 212-679 -7161 ext. 19, or e-mail (use event title as subject and include each attendee's name, company, and e-mail address) to: rsvpny@hafeleamericas.com. CES HSW: 1

James F. Lima, president of the Governors Island Preservation & Education Corporation, will speak on the conceptual planning and pre-development process for Governors Island, at a morning event sponsored by the AIA New York Chapter's Planning & Urban Design Committee. The program will be held 8:00 – 9:45am at the Center for Architecture. All tickets are $10; students get in free. Click here to register. CES HSW: 1.5

October 25: Memorial Tribute For Joseph Wasserman, FAIA, Past President, AIA New York Chapter

Joseph Wasserman passed away June 25, 2004 after a long and distinguished career as a member of the AIA New York Chapter. His firm, Hoberman & Wasserman, exemplified the impact of modern design in housing and community planning. Beginning with the winning design for the Roosevelt Memorial Competition in Washington, DC, the firm designed many notable projects over a period of 30 years, including 1,200 units of UDC housing.

Wasserman retired to the Berkshires in 1991, where he renovated a city block and designed and operated a movie theater in Great Barrington, MA (film was a second love). He was always very active in the Chapter, where he served as president and long time member of the Housing Committee. In 1987, he was awarded the AIANY Pioneer in Housing Award in recognition of his distinguished contribution to housing and community design.

The program and reception at the Center for Architecture will include remembrances of Joe followed by excerpts of a film he commissioned on his life and work. This tribute will be a continuation of a memorable presentation Joe gave at the Center in November 2003. Open to all; register here.

Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation is sponsoring a six-week seminar titled "Architectural Theory in the Time of Sir John Soane: From Enlightenment to Shadows: The Impact of French Rationalism and Sensationalism and of English Picturesque Theory 1750-1800." The program, focusing on the theories that influenced Soane (1753-1837), will be taught by Barry Bergdoll, Professor of Art History at Columbia University, and is the first of a two-semester sequence. The seminar will meet Mondays, 5:30-7:30pm, October 25 – December 6 at a private club. The cost is $480, and offers 12 learning units for AIA/CES credit. For information and registration, contact Cynthia Sanford, Sir John Soane's Museum Foundation: soane@mindspring.com or 646-654-0085.

As part of the 92nd Street Y's architecture programs, Hamilton Smith and LOT-EK will participate in a "Dialogue with Design Legends" moderated by Architectural League executive director Rosalie Genevro. The event begins at 8:15pm at 1395 Lexington Avenue. Admission is $25; for details and tickets click on link or call 212-415-5500.

"Making Chaos Work For You: Keys to Small Firm Management," will focus on strategies for running a small firm. The program, sponsored by the AIA NY Chapter Professional Practice Committee (co-chairs Ralph Steinglass, FAIA, and Ann M. Rolland, AIA), will be led by Rena Klein. It will begin with a 5:30pm reception, followed by a presentation from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Admission: $20/members; $25/non-members. Click on link above for a description of the seminar. To register, call 212-358-6111 or click: register online. CES LUs: 2

October 29 (‘tis the season): Within the Walls: The Lost Ghosts and Haunters of Architecture

The New York Foundation for Architecture and the AIA New York Chapter are presenting a special Halloween event at the Center for Architecture. James Karl Fischer, AIA, RIBA, will be on hand 5:30-7:30pm – the first hour to regale children with tales of haunted houses; the second hour to regale fellow architects with, as he explains it, explorations of "local haunted environs and the making of haunts, in an effort to come to terms with this macabre architectural fascination and phobia . . . and relive the historical import of ghost stories and that peculiar tincture of anxiety common to the formation of our own AIA." (Youngsters will retire to the Foundation's workshop to build haunted houses of their own.) Treats (and tricks) will be provided. $10 donation; RSVP here. CES LUs: 1.

November 1: AIA NY Chapter 2004 Ratensky Lecture: "Experiments in the Environment / Social Interface of Housing" by William J Conklin, FAIA

The Housing Committee & Planning and Urban Design Committee are sponsoring the Chapter's always-popular annual Ratensky lecture on Monday, November 1, at the Center for Architecture. This year's presenter is William J. Conklin, FAIA, formerly of Conklin Rossant Architects, founded by Albert Mayer and Julian Whittlesey, early 20th century visionary New York architects and social reformers. The firm designed many apartment buildings and housing developments, including Manhattan House, Butterfield House, 333 East 69th Street, the new town of Reston, VA, and the original Lower Manhattan Plan. Introductions will be made by Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, ACSA Distinguished Professor. Drinks at 5:30, program at 6:00, followed by a reception. Cost: $10/members; $15/non-member; students/free. Register: rsvp@aiany.org or call 212-358-6111. CES HSW 1.5

The Historic Districts Council will present the 16th Annual Landmarks Lion Award to Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners on Monday, November 8. Past awards have honored individuals who show unusual devotion and aggressiveness in protecting landmarks and historic districts. This is the first year HDC will bestow the award on a professional organization. Museum of the City of New York president and director Susan Henshaw Jones will present the award at a ceremony and benefit dinner at the new BBB-designed Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street. The event will begin at 6:30 pm; tickets begin at $250; for information and reservations, call the Historic Districts Council at 212-614-9107.

November 16-18: Build Boston Convention and Tradeshow – co-sponsored by AIA New York Chapter

The AIA New York Chapter is proud to once again join the Boston Society of Architects/AIA as a sponsor of 20th Annual Build Boston. As an AIA member, you are invited to join your colleagues for this special event, November 16-18, at Boston's Seaport World Trade Center.

Twenty-four industry professionals from New York will be speaking at this year's event. One workshop of particular note is called "Design Collaborations – Art and Architecture," comprised of speakers solely from the New York area. All panelists have been deeply involved in recent developments in downtown Manhattan in the aftermath of September 11. Speakers include Gisela Baurmann, Sawad Brooks and Jonas Coersmeier (bbc art + architecture, New York City), Bradley Campbell (Artist, Brooklyn), Matthias Neumann (Normaldesign, Brooklyn), Frederic Schwartz, AIA (Principal, Schwartz Architects, New York City) and Brian Tolle (Artist, New York City). The session is on Thursday, November 18 (event #C61).

Other new features include symposiums on density (November 17), diversity (November 18), and young architecture professionals (November 18) – along with daily tours of boutique hotel. Returning highlights include the 5th annual Women in Design Conference, the BSA Gala and Design Celebration, a keynote luncheon led by industry leaders from McGraw-Hill Construction, and daily "Big Dig" tours.

Build Boston also boasts the largest tradeshow for our industry in the Northeast with over 350 of the country's top suppliers of building technologies, products, and services all under one roof. With nearly 200 workshops, Build Boston provides you with the opportunity to earn all of your AIA Learning Units (LUs) for the year in one place, in three days. Visit www.buildboston.com or call 800-544-1898 for details and to register.

Earlier this month Entablature announced its 2004 Web Site Award winners: Hillier (www.hillier.com) won the Gold Medal for the clear and user-friendly presentation of the firm's philosophy, expertise, and case studies. Local firms winning Honor Awards were: Urban Office Architecture (www.uoa-architecture.com), and TEK/Thanhauser Esterson Kapell (www.tek-arch.com); Rafael Viñoly Architects (www.rvapc.com) received a Merit Award. Christopher Connock was given the Student Honor Award (www.christopherconnock.com). Urban Office Architecture was also given the Most Innovative Site Award. While design was a consideration, awards were given to those sites that used information in an integral way (organizer Kriss Pettersen stated that on many sites, innovation too often overwhelmed content). For a complete list of winners, go to: www.entablature.com/awards.htm.

In late September, a partnership of The Enterprise Foundation/Enterprise Social Investment Corporation (ESIC) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) launched the Green Communities Initiative, a five-year commitment to provide $550 million in grants and favorably priced financing to developers for environmentally friendly affordable rental and for-sale homes across the country. The program will also offer expert training and technical assistance to help housing developers "go green," and encourage government agencies at the local, state, and federal level to "green" their affordable housing programs. Click on link above for all the details, including grant and loan application criteria.

Closer to home, The New York Sun reported on Tuesday (10/12) that Mayor Bloomberg would most likely be announcing an Enterprise Foundation grant of $1 billion (yes, that's a "b") towards the mayor's $3 billion New Housing Marketplace program to build 65,000 new affordable housing units by 2008. Though the New York Times reported on Thursday (10/14) that the initial grant will be $5 million "that the city hopes will eventually generate as much as $1 billion for such housing." (Click on links to read full articles.)

Last week proved not only that this is a city that never sleeps – it is filled with architects (and architecture enthusiasts) who don't sleep either, as the following reports indicate.

It was also a week of firsts, the most rewarding marking the first anniversary of the Center for Architecture. And what a year! The Center has hosted an average of three public events almost every day since opening – almost 1,000 programs. In addition to the thousands who have attended those events, there has been a walk-in audience of about 3,000 every month. Crunching the numbers, that's almost 100,000 visitors in the first year.

The AIA New York Chapter and New York Foundation for Architecture's 2004 Heritage Ball on Thursday broke all records with 1,100 (very elegant) attendees. Between the Ball and the Party@theCenter afterwards (600 celebrants), the Chapter raised $915,000 ($127,000 more than last year!).

It is also the first time student scholarships were awarded. This year, each of the honorees were asked to pick a local school: Edward A. Feiner, FAIA, Bruce S. Fowle, FAIA, Matthew Goldstein, and Patricia J. Lancaster, FAIA, selected Cooper Union, Syracuse University, City College, and Columbia, respectively, and then each school's dean selected a student.

The general fund for scholarships also received almost $4,000 from the proceeds of the silent auction for the riotous, hot red table centerpieces – each a unique sculpture designed by Marlaina Deppe and her studio, Novo Arts.

On October 5, the Center for Architecture celebrated its first year of exhibitions and programming with our second annual Design-In Marathon. More than 60 design industry professionals participated in the daylong series of programs on interdisciplinary work in architecture, planning, and place making in New York City. Presented free and open to the public courtesy of an underwriting grant from Ibex Construction, the Design-In Marathon explored the intersection of themes related to collaboration: practice, design and the arts.

The day began with David J. Burney, AIA, of the NYC Dept. of Design and Construction, Edward A. Feiner, FAIA, U.S. General Services Administration, and Marla Simpson, of the Mayor's Office of Contract Services speaking on the importance of design in public spaces. Each hour presented a unique topic ranging from community development to planning a recovered landscape along the East River waterfront. Highlights included Collaboration on the Edge where panelists Michael Davies, Richard Rogers Partnership; Christopher Sharples, SHoP; Michael Samuelian, AIA, AICP, NYC Dept. of City Planning; and landscape architect Ken Smith, ASLA, discussed plans for the East River. The L!brary Initiative panel highlighted an ongoing partnership between the Robin Hood Foundation and the NYC Department of Education; architects Henry Myerberg, AIA, Rockwell Group; Juergen Rhiem, AIA, 1100 Architect; Calvin Tsao, AIA, Tsao & McKown Architects; and Billie Tsien, AIA, Tod Williams Billie Tsien presented their innovative – and pro bono – designs for public elementary school libraries.

We are grateful to all our speakers for their participation in the 2004 Design-In Marathon, including:

Dennis Adams, School of Arts at Cooper Union
Victoria Arbitrario, PE, Gilsanz Murray Steficek
Illya Azaroff, Assoc. AIA, Design Collective
Alban Bassuet, Acoustic Consultant
Erik Botsford, NYC Dept. of City Planning
Hillary Brown, AIA, New Civic Works
Sean Brown, Artist
Joan Byron, Pratt Institute Center for Community & Environmental Development
Charlotte Cohen, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art Program
Ethan Cohen, City College Architectural Center
Randolph R. Croxton, FAIA, Croxton Collaborative
Joshua Dachs, Fischer Dachs Associates
Carl Galiato, FAIA, Skidmore Owings & Merrill
Stephanie Gelb, AIA, Battery Park City Authority
Anita Glesta, Artist
Michael Gottlieb, Lighting Designer
Gary E. Handel, AIA, Handel Architects
Sudhir Jambhekar, AIA, Fox & Fowle Architects
Mark Jarecke, Choreographer
Marcha Johnson, ASLA, NYC Parks & Recreation
Kevin Kennon, Kevin Kennon Architects PC
Ajamu Kitwana, Environmental Engineer
Patricia J. Lancaster, FAIA, NYC Dept. of Buildings
George Leventis, PE, Principal, Langan Engineering
Patrick Logan, Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation
Charlie Morrow, Charles Morrow Associates
Peter Mullan, Friends of the High Line
Ernest J. Naples, AIA, DMJM + Harris
Fruma Narov, Urbitran Associates
Signe Nelson, FASLA, Matthews Nielsen Landscape Architects
Mario Penzi, PE, NYC Dept. of Buildings
Mahadev Raman, PE, Arup
Larry E. Rosenbloom, AIA, Urbitran Rosenbloom
Porie Saikia-Eapen, AIA, MTA New York City Transit
Michael J. Schumacher, Composer
Leni Schwendinger, Leni Schwendinger Light Projects
Frank Sciame, Hon. AIA NYC, F. J. Sciame Construction Co.
Ken Smith, ASLA, Ken Smith Landscape Architect
Lisa Switkin, ASLA, Field Operations
Lonni Tanner, Robin Hood Foundation
Ian Taylor, PE, Arup
Mikon van Gastel, Imaginary Forces
Tod Williams, FAIA, Tod Williams Billie Tsien
Neill Woodger, Arup

Also, for the first time, the Center for Architecture was the set for dance performances throughout the day. Dancers interacted with the structure and exhibitions and could be spotted on all levels, even the sidewalk! Thanks to the following dancers who performed during the Design-In Marathon: Jody Oberfelder, Elise Knudson, Guta Hedwig, Kristi Spessard, Heather Harrington, Kathleen Flynn, Jacqueline Fritz, Heather Mims, Jessy C. Smith, and Alyssa Stith.

Thanks again to sponsors M.I.M. Consulting, Kel-Mar Designs, M.J. Engineering and Land Surveying, Rockwell Group, and Ibex Construction, as well as Mark Strauss, FAIA, and Illya Azaroff, Assoc. AIA, for helping to organize the 2004 Design-In Marathon.

Record crowds explored 100 sites – grand public spaces, private homes, cemeteries, a lighthouse, power plant, the underpinnings of a swimming pool, and sites of historic significance in all five boroughs during the 2nd annual openhousenewyork weekend presented by Target. Outdoorsy types walked the path of the Old Croton Aqueduct, toured the architectural gems in front of and behind the neon in Times Square (at midnight, for many), and climbed the High Bridge Water Tower and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch.

For the second year, the Friends of the High Line offered approximately 2,000 OHNY visitors an up close look at the rail-bed and its autumnal landscape from the freight-car siding of an abandoned meat processing plant. Other OHNY attendee favorites included the turn of the century Pratt Power Plant, the Jefferson Market Library, Grand Lodge of the Masons, the last townhouse designed by Paul Rudolph, and a preview of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

On hand for meeting, greeting and answering questions were Sarah Caples, AIA, of Caples Jefferson Architects at the firm's award-winning (2004 AIA NY Chapter and 2003 AIA National Honor Awards) Heritage Housing Headquarters in West Harlem; Rosemary Suh of Peter Gluck & Partners, Architects, was at the firm's Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service in East Harlem; and Calvert Wright, AIA, spent part of his weekend at the studio he designed for fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez in Gramercy Park and a loft he designed in Chelsea. Other architectural firms that opened their doors over the weekend included Anderson Architects in Chelsea, Clodagh Design in NoHo, Leroy Street Studio in Chinatown, TEK Architects in Union Square, V Studio in the West Village. The Center For Architecture served once again as OHNY's Welcome Center.

Have You Heard the Bells? MorrowSound™ 3D Cube in the Center for Architecture

Visitors to the Center may be hearing something quite different in the entrance atrium now that a MorrowSound™ 3D Cube system has been installed by pioneering sound artist Charlie Morrow of Charles Morrow Associates and acoustic expert Neill Woodger of Arup Acoustics. Architect John Steigerwald, AIA, discovered Morrow's work this year at the "New Sounds New York" show at the Kitchen Center for Multimedia in Chelsea. The Sound Cube project was developed and shown in New York and Europe, and the Center now has the first permanent installation. Every corner of the entry area is filled with an hour-long assembly of sounds ranging from NYC street sports to a "moving" rendition of "Take The A Train" by the Buster William Band with vocalist Melissa Walker. As part of Architecture Week Design-In Marathon, Morrow and Woodger, along with colleagues Alban Bassuet and Michael Schumacher, presented a panel to discuss architecture and sound art in 3D.

A more in depth presentation is scheduled for the evening of November 9 when they will use AIA Sound Cube to demonstrate artistic content as well as acoustic modeling in the service of architectural design, a specialty of Arup Acoustic SoundLab. Partial support for this project was provided by Bose USA. "We live in a world of 3D sound, the world of the x, y, and z dimensions," says Morrow. "Broadly considered, 3D is how we understand our environment. Humans are designed to detect motion in all directions as a matter of survival – eat or become a meal. Hence, a fourth coordinate, w, the location of the listener." The MorrowSound Cube is a result of 40 years of sound art creation and audio design for museums and other locations with acoustic challenges. "We have invented an easy to set up, hide-the-wiring way to hear and distribute diverse 'spatialized' sound works," Morrow explains. Unlike surround and quadraphonic formats, 3D occupies more than the ear-level listening plane often associated with a frontal experience on a screen or stage. "3D sound contrasts to surround sound as swimming underwater compares to taking a shower—total envelopment instead of the limits of a lateral space," Morrow says. "Our standard playback is immersive, above and below the listening plane, as well as in front and behind, and on all sides." Charles Morrow Associates is currently creating a repertory of 3D sound works with plans to syndicate the 3D system to public and private spaces.

October 31: Cityscape Architectural Review Awards 2004 for buildings or future projects in Middle East; Africa; Central and Eastern Asia; Australia (excluding Japan and Australia)

Position Title: Lead Project Manager
Reports to: Brad Cloepfil
General Description: Lead and manage the Project Leads at Allied Works, both in the Portland and New York offices. The position will also manage one – two projects. Develop and refine project management systems and practices on nationally recognized projects.
Specific responsibilities: Organization-Project Management Interface, Project Management Support, Professional Development, Technology and Project Leadership
Apply to: info@alliedworks.com

Position Title: Managing Principal
Reports to: Brad Cloepfil
General Description: Lead and manage the business and marketing aspects of Allied Works, working closely with the founder and sole principal, Brad Cloepfil. The position has two main functional areas - Business Management and to oversee Marketing and Media Relations.
Specific responsibilities: Strategic Planning, Financial Management, Contracts, Organizational Management, Marketing and Public Relations.
Apply to: info@alliedworks.com

1 or 2 person windowed workstation cluster in midtown (38th & 6th) interior design office. Access to conference, library, pantry and fax/copy. Phone, internet available. Please call Sherma at 212-768-7788 ext.100. Monthly lease $750 each.

Intermediate Architect/Job Captain
Mid-sized design firm seeks intermediate level architect with strong technical skills for long term assistance on a variety of work including medium to large size institutional/cultural projects (see www.gluckmanmayner.com). Self starter with 6 to 10 years experience including detailing, consultant coordination and oversight of construction documents. Field experience helpful. ACAD 2002 required. License preferred. Please fax resume to Gluckman Mayner Architects at 212-929-0833 or e-mail to vbroderick@gluckmanmayner.com.

Due to the length of our calendar listings and the frequency the information gets updated, the eOCULUS Committee has decided to link to our online calendar. Please click on this link http://www.aiany.org/calendar/index.php to view the full calendar of events.
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